Register-dial.



No. 645,054. Patented Mar. l3, I900.

G. H. ALTON.

REGISTER DIAL.

(Application flied Nov. 24, 1899.)

(No Model.)

Wimesses Inventor.

I George Hfllbon. 4 0;

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In: Harm's mus co. vno1oumo,,wnumamu c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. ALTON, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NElV YORK.

REGISTER-DIAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,054, dated March 13, 1900. Application filed November 24, 1899- Serial No. 738,127. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. ALTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Register-Dials, (Case No. 1,198,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to dials for counters or registers in which a summation result is indicated byaplurality of progressively-moving devices, each carrying digits or other characters adapted to be exposed to View one at a time, so as to display the summation number or combination before a plurality of openings through which the several characters or digits may be seen. In such devices where the several digit-carryin g members are continuously movable, as through a train of wheelwork, the range of movement through which each digit can be seen subtends a sufficient angle to disclose the next succeeding digit before the one which corresponds to the indication has passed out of the field of vision, thus confusing the reading of the counter. In one class of devices this objection is avoided by having the devices which carry the several digits intermittently operated, as by a pin engaging a stop on the movable digit-wheel, once in each revolution of the adjacent wheel of the train. Such an organization, however, has a disadvantage in that it loads the mechanism unevenly, throwing a sudden load upon the source of power at the moment of registry. In my organization the load is practically constant, and yet only one digit of each wheel maybe seen at one time, a movable shade or screen provided with an opening through which the digit may be seen being so arranged as to move with the digit-wheel until the following digit has been brought into registering position, when the screen will be instantly shifted, causing the preceding digit to disappear and the proper one to be exposed, the latter being in turn followed and kept within the field of view until it is time for the counter to display another digit. A characteristic feature of my organization therefore is a disappearing indication automatically main tained within the field of vision until a new indication is necessary, when it suddenly disappears and a new indication is made.

The features of novelty of my invention will be hereinafter more fully described, and will be definitely indicated in the claims.

In the accompanyin g drawings, illustrating one form of my invention, Figure 1 shows a front view of a counter or register embodying my improvements, part of the front cover being removed to show some of the digit-wheels, the wheel-train and shifting screens being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is an end elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a digit-Wheel and its screen, and Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View showing the relative arrangement of the parts shown in Fig. 3.

My device comprises a train of wheelwork geared together,so that each succeeding wheel makes one revolution for ten of the preceding wheel of the train. The wheel-train may be operated in any desired manner and may form part of any device Whose movements or rotations are to be counted. As shown herein, it comprises an organization adapted for use in connection with an electric meter in which the wheel-train is driven by a gear wheel 1,.adapted to engage a worm driven by the meter-shat t. fore imparted to the train of wheelwork while the counter is in operation. On each shaft of the wheel-train is mounted a toothed wheel 2, such as a ratchet-wheel, upon which are printed, embossed, or otherwise marked numbers from 1 to 10, equidistantly placed as to angular distance around the edge of the wheel. Thus during each revolution of each wheel the ten digits forming a part of the decimal system will be successively brought into alinement with a slot or opening 3, formed in the cover, through which the digit may be exposed to view. WVith such an arrangement simply it would be evident that each digit will pass through the'field of view, and if the latter be sufficiently long or cover a sufficiently-wide arc to permit the succeeding figure to be brought into view before the one indicating the registration disappears both will for a time be visible, thereby obscuring the reading. Even with a very narrow field of view it will sometimes be impossible to say which of two partially-concealed digits is the proper one to be read.

It is the object of my invention to over Contin uous motion is there-' come this difficulty by forming a movable screen or shutter following the movement of the figure indicating the registration and hiding it only when the next figure is to be displayed. I accomplish this result in the specific organization shown in the drawings by mounting on the inner side of the cover 4: over each digit-wheel a sheet-metal segment 5, so shaped that it is heavier on one side of the pivot than the other. This is pivoted loosely to the cover, so as to be freely movable, the pivot-point being eccentrically related to the axis of the digit-wheel, as indicated in Fig. A small pin is fastened to the lighter end of the segment, as indicated at 6, preferably provided with a fiat face on the inside, as indicated, so as to promote a better cooperation with the tooth of the ratchetwheel. As thus organized, as the ratchetwheel rotates the segment 5 will be carried through a certain definite angle, depending on the degree of eccentricity with relation to the shaft of the digit-wheel, after which the pin 6 will escape from the tooth of the ratchetwheel and will gravitate to a new position, throwing the pin 6 upwardly. An opening the size of the largest digit is formed in the movable screen, as indicated in Fig. 3. Thus during the rotation of the ratchet-wheel the digit corresponding to the proper indication of the counter is exposed. through the two openings, the larger opening in the front cover and the smaller opening in the movable screen, and this figure will be maintained in the field of vision through the entire angular movement of the number-wheel until the next digit should be displayed, when the pin 6 escapes from the tooth of the ratchetwheel, and the latter instantly covers the lastdisplayed number and exposes the succeeding number. This operation will be sufficiently evident from the description hereinbefore given in connection with an examination of Figs. 1 and 2.

Obviously the time of release between the tooth of the ratchet and the pin 6 isa matter of very small relative displacement of the two, and in order to determine it with accuracy I provide on the covera series of pins '7, one for each screen, and so located as to arrest the weighted end of the screen when shifted to the exact point where disappearance of the digit is desired. The 'pin having thus been set with relation to the screen, (which is a matter easily determined, since both are fastened to the cover,) the pin 6 maybe readily dressed with a file, so as to locate the moment of release of the screen with great nicety. The relative positions of the pin and screen are shown in Figs. 3 and 4, it being seen in the former figure in projection upon the ratchetwheel, with which, however, it has no connection, as will be understood from the description just made.

It will of course be understood by those familiar with the'construction of numbering devices that as some of the digitwheels turn clockwise and others anticlockwise the screens and their controlling devices will be positioned accordingly.

My invention is particularly useful in connection with electric meters and similar devicesin which the maintenance of a constant friction load is highly advantageous.

lVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A register or indicator comprising a plurality of progressively-shifting indicating devices mounted to display changing groups of indications, and a movable screen operated by the register to cover any indication of the group when the next followingindication enters the field of vision.

2. A register or indicator, comprising a plurality of progressively-shifting indicating devices mounted to display changing groups of indications, and a movable screen for each indicating device exposing an indication for a determinate range of movement and covering it when the next enters the field.

3. A register or indicator in which a plurality of indications are progressively exposed to view, comprising a fixed screen having an opening to display the shifting indication for a determinate time, and a movable screen provided with an opening normally exposing an indication on entrance to the field of vision, means for moving the latter screen with the indication, and a retractile agency for quickly shifting it to uncover the next following indication on coming into the field.

4. A counter or register comprising a Wheeltrain, a plurality of digit or numbering wheels, a cover provided with openings to subtend two adjacent digits, a screen for eachopening, and means for shifting it over a digit when the next digit enters the field of vision.

5. A counter or register comprising a wheeltrain, a plurality of digit or numbering wheels, a cover provided with openings to subtend two adjacent digits on each wheel, and a screen for each digit-wheel released to cover the digit when the digit adjacent to it enters the field.

6. A counter or register comprising a wheeltrain a plurality of digit or numbering wheels operated thereby, to number progressively from units upward, a cover for the digits provided with openings to subtend two adjacent digits on each wheel, a screen before such opening displaying a single digit, and means operated by each digit-wheel for shift ing the screen to cover the advance digit and uncover the next following digit when its indication should be made.

7. A counter or register comprising a series of digit-wheels, a movable screen for each wheel uncovering a single digit, and means operated by each wheel to shift its screen to cover the digit and uncoventhe next following digit at a determinate time.

8. A counter or register comprising a series of digit-wheels, a pivoted screen for each IIO Wheel uncovering a single digit, for a definite time, a retractile agency for the screens, and a trip operated by each digit-Wheel for releas- :ing the screen, thereby covering the advance digit and uncovering the next following digit.

9. A counter or register comprising a series of digit-wheels, a pivoted retractile screen for each Wheel uncovering a single digit at atime, a detent connecting each Wheel and its screen during a definite angular movement, adapted to be tripped at the end of such angular movement.

10. A counter or register comprising a series of digit-wheels operated by a Wheel-train, a freely pivoted retractile screen for each Wheel, uncovering a single digit, and eccentrically mounted relatively to its Wheel, a detent on the screen, and a plurality of teeth or stops on the wheels corresponding in angular 2o displacement to the digits.

11. A counter or register comprising a series of digit-wh eels operated by a wheel-train, a freely-pivoted retractile screen for each Wheel uncovering a single digit and eccentrically mounted relatively to its Wheel, a ratchet on each Wheel, and a pin on the screen engaging the ratchet and adapted to be shifted and released thereby.

12. A counter or register comprising a series of digit-Wheels, a pivoted gravitative screen provided with an opening to uncover a single digit, said screen being eccentrically mounted relatively to its Wheel, a ratchet on each Wheel, a pin thereof engaging the teeth on the screen, and a stop-pin 7 for the screen to determine its releasing-point.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of November, 1899.

GEORGE H. ALTON.

Witnesses:

DUGALD MOKILLOP, HENRY O, WESTENDARP. 

